You’ve been such diligent woolalongers that I’ve decided to take you to the next level. You’re ready to stalk your prey. We’ve gone from bouncy (Cormo) to smoother (BFL) to a hybrid “smouncy” (Targhee) to the nuanced and multitextured Icelandic. And now? You’re ready for one of my very favorites. It’s actually two breeds, one being the multicolored variant of the other. We’re talking about…

Romeldale and California Variegated Mutant! So many of the breeds we’ve explored were developed with meat in mind, and/or with the goal of a bright white fiber for the commercial textiles market. Or, in the case of Icelandic, to serve as a one-stop shop for all our needs.

But the Romeldale and California Variegated Mutant (or CVM as the cool kids call it) were developed much more recently for their FIBER, specifically for handspinners. Which means that when a multicolored animal appeared in the flock, it wasn’t swiftly chopped up and put in the freezer. It was prized and carefully bred with the hopes of producing more.

In case you don’t have your copy of KBOW handy, here’s the abbreviated story:

In 1915, a man named A. T. Spencer attended the Pan-American exposition in San Francisco and was so smitten with a group of New Zealand Romney rams on display that he bought the whole mob and brought them back to his ranch. There he diligently bred them with his flock of Rambouillet ewes with the hope of improving the fleece staple and length, and thus the Romeldale breed began. In the 1940s and ’50s, the J. K. Sexton family continued the breeding and helped fine-tune the Romeldale breed.

The multicolored variant of the Romeldale sheep, the CVM was developed by Glen Eidman after he discovered a multicolored ewe lamb in his flock of Romeldale sheep. He was intrigued because the Romeldale breed usually does not produce multiple colors. When a similar-patterned ram was born a few years later, Eidman decided to cross the two and see if he could replicate the patterning. Over the next 15 years, he diligently continued to selectively breed subsequent generations until he had developed what is now known as the California Variegated Mutant. Upon his retirement in 1982, he dispersed his entire flock of approximately 75 sheep to other farms across California, and the breed continues to grow.

With the exception of fleece color, the Romeldale and CVM are essentially identical. Both are extremely soft and pleasant to the touch, with a uniform long-staple fleece with a well-defined crimp. (Think about it: If they blend Romney and Rambouillet, you get the delicate softness of Rambouillet with the heartier, more open disposition of Romney). Available primarily in fleece form for handspinners, Romeldale and CVM can be spun woolen or worsted depending on the staple length and the spinner’s objectives (loftier for softness and warmth, tighter for greater durability).

CVM and Romeldale are still relatively rare in the commercial yarn world. This means you’ll need to use your highly tuned spidey senses to find a source - and share what you’ve found here. As always Jane will continue to update the resource list as new farms and Etsy shops are found.

I’ll kick off the list with Roubaix Wool - I believe someone might have tipped me off about them here. Their 90% CVM/10%mohair yarn is quite nice - earthy but somewhat delicate and faintly luminous at the same time.

And in terms of spinning fiber, I just noticed that Jen at Spirit-Trail has several colors and blends available right now. As for the others, I look forward to seeing what you find. (Since this inevitably means I must also order from these sources. For… cough… research purposes.)

I'll be spinning (!) some CVM/alpaca and CVM/Romeldale fiber from my stash. A few months ago I didn't even know what CVM was. This wool-a-long is really the best thing ever, Clara.

I have been practicing with my spindle the last two nights and it's really amazing how much improvement comes in a short time. I won't be making lace yarn any time soon but I do feel like I am able to make yarn I'd actually like to knit with.

Oh yes, Jane you "ignorant slacker". It's not as if you had to move an entire book store, or anything. This, right before the marauding tribes of (g)literati and fashionistas descended on you little piece of heaven. Biting your tongue, alone, must take heaps of energy every day. It would me. So no more slacker talk, sweet Jane. You are a modern marvel of industry and calm in a sea of madness every summer.Rosi,who has tourist issues of her own, but hardly the rich and famous sort

I'm so excited. Just scored a skein of HandDyed, CVM/Soysilk Sock in Autumn colors from Winterwind Farm (Art Fire). Spent way too much $$, but who cares? We can go without dinner for a few days .Can't wait to touch, sniff and knit it up!

That's too funny, Minh, since the CVM and Romeldale fiber I have came from you! The Spirit Trail roving you scored in the Stash Lounge at the Retreat and then passed to me when we were in our hotel room busily bending the laws of physics to fit our new yarn into our suitcases...

It might take me a while to find my CVM/Romeldale soulmate... - First, I pass on some roving to Luann. - Second, despite NutmegOwl's comment I wasn't able to find any CVM at the Maine fiber frolic -- unless I was willing to buy a whole fleece which I'm not ready to do yet. I talked to the people at the CVM table in the sheep barn, there are only a few CVM breeders in Maine.

I'll go back to my unspun Targhee and un-knit Icelandic while hunting for some CVM.

I'm in!I got one skein (the last one for now) from Roubaix wool, and will knit a something--its only 200 yards, but it will be lovely.This is such a great idea to help us learn about breed specific wools. I have missed the earlier ones, but have knit Icelandic, and will try Targhee before long.Keep us going, Clara, and thanks!

I am a bit over-extended (money and fiber project wise) right now and have opted to skip this month. However, I have put this fiber on my list of things to watch for in the future. It sounds like it would make a great pair of bed socks for those cold winter night (which I am having trouble remembering right now. It's been hot in Maryland). I am currently spinning Wensleydale on one spindle, finishing up some llama top on two more, a silk and merino blend on another and Rambouillet on my wheel. I'm knitting two sweaters, 2 shawls and an afghan. I wanna join in but can't. : (